One-sided encounter hands Old Albanian a tough opening loss

PUBLISHED: 09:32 07 September 2017 | UPDATED: 09:32 07 September 2017

Jono Midghall in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: KARYN HADDON

Archant

An entire season’s worth of misfortune was visited on Gavin Hogg’s Old Albanian charges as their attempts to keep the maurauders of Rosslyn Park at bay in the opening game of the new National One campaign ended in a 58-0 defeat.

Dan Watt in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: KARYN HADDON

Craig Dowsett in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: KARYN HADDON

Jason Billows in action for the Old Albanians. Picture: KARYN HADDON

Too often it has been said that if you keep doing what you are doing and expect different results an element of lunacy must be expected.

Whilst madness is not suspected here, far too much of the OA approach was predictable and Park latched onto this fact very early in a one-sided encounter.

Tight play was probably the only facet of the OA game which will comfort the coaching team; nothing was lost in the tight scrum against weightier opponents and two line-outs were stolen in fortuitous circumstances.

As the scoreline indicates none of this helped the Albanian cause.

A trip to Ampthill is next up on Saturday but OA’s new squad now know what is expected in National One.